Open Adoptions: Longitudinal Outcomes for the AdoptionTriad

The Relationship Between Time and Birth Mother Satisfaction With Relinquishment

“…Rather, contact between adoptive parents, birth parents, and adopted children has become the norm (Child Welfare Information Gateway, 2013;Siegel & Livingston Smith, 2012). The findings of this analysis reinforced the findings of prior studies (e.g., Ge et al, 2008;Grotevant, McRoy, Wrobel, & Ayers-Lopez, 2013;Henney et al, 2007;McRoy et al, 2007) that have confirmed the positive impact postrelinquishment contact can have on birth mothers. In the current analysis, birth mothers who reported current contact with their child were more likely to express satisfaction with their decision.…”

“…Little is known about the interaction of these two variables. This analysis builds on the work of other studies that have looked at the impact of time since relinquishment on birth mothers' satisfaction with their decision, together or in part (e.g., Ge et al, 2008;Henney et al, 2007;Krahn & Sullivan, 2015;McRoy et al, 2007), by utilizing multivariate statistics to model the effect of time since relinquishment on birth mother satisfaction with her decision to place her child, while controlling for variables that may have an impact on the dependent variable (satisfaction with decision). Practice implications for adoption agency workers and counselors who serve birth mothers will be discussed, as well as recommendations for future research.…”

Maintaining Open Adoption Relationships: Practitioner Insights on Adoptive Parents’ Regulation of Adoption Kinship Networks

“…Adoptive parents are generally more satisfied with their level of contact than individuals in closed adoptions (Grotevant et al, 2013). Birth parents involved in open adoptions express satisfaction with their placement decision and benefit from receiving updates on the child's well-being and development (McRoy et al, 2007). Across the board, the benefits of open adoption are clear.…”

“…Individuals in open adoptions have to decide on a case-by-case basis how much contact is best for whom (Atwood, 2007). The nature of the contact often changes over time in response to developmental stages (McRoy et al, 2007). Individuals in mutually satisfying open adoption relationships rely upon boundary management, flexibility, tolerance for ambiguity, and emotional distance regulation to maintain a positive, child-centered connection (Grotevant, 2009).…”

“…Open adoption occurs when there is purposeful contact between adoptive parents, birth families, and adoptees (McRoy, Grotevant, Ayers-Lopez, & Henney, 2007). Such contact can vary in scope and intensity, ranging from the exchange of limited information via letters to prolonged face-to-face visits (Grotevant et al, 2008).…”